Carton closing mechanism



July 3l, 1945. G. l. HoHL CARTON CLOSING MEGHANSM 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 28, 19.45

G. l. HoHL- GARON CLOSING MECHANISM July 31, 1945.

Filed Oct. '28, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. l. HOHL CARTON CLOSING MECHANISM July 31, 1945.

Filed Oct. 28, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 42 INVENTOR. 620159@ ['JZ,

. ATTORNEY.

-having tuck-portions, and especially of the type be incorporated in a machine for setting up and controlled guidance is so attained as to assure 20 invention iS especially adapted to manipulate Sure naps and tucbportions as presented ready s tion' from which the conveyor means leads or Patented July 31,V 1945 v UNITE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE` i CARTON CLOSING MEcnANrsM George I. Hohl, East Orange, N. J. Application October 28, 1943, Serial No. 507,977

s claims. (ci. ss-e) This invention relates to automatic mechanism in the abpve described views, to indicate correfor closing filled cartons or boxes of the type Sponding ports. provided with side 'tabs and end closure naps The carton closing mechanism iS adapted to wherein such form of end closure means is pro- 5 filling cartons whereby to close the filled cartons, vided at each end of the carton or box, with the vand thereupon discharge them from the machine. end closure flaps at both ends thereof extending Such carton Setting up and filling machine, not from the same side and in a common plane. -being the subject of the instant invention, is

The invention has for an object to provider a. not shown, and it will be understood that such novel construction of automatic mechanism for 1 setting up and llins machinery is, in principle, nrst manipulating and closing the side tabs of well known to the art. and may be variously the carton or box, and then simultaneously madesigned to Suit the particular product desired nipulating and closing the end closure flaps and to' be filled into4 the cartons, and, furthermore, tucking in the tuckportions thereof at the remuy include, When the cartons are Supplied spective ends 0f the carton or box l5 thereto in initially flat or collapsed condition,

The invention has for another object to prosuitable means for expanding the cartons to vide novel automatic mechanism for the puropen condition, ready for the reception of the poses stated whereby accurate folding of the Product to be filled thereinto. f end closure ilaps and their tuck-portions under The novel Carton Closing mechanism 0f this accurate presentation and direction of the tuckthat llype of carton o1 lboX Which comprises a recportions for easy insertion into the interior of tengulel hollow body l0 having Open opposite the carton or box body, whereupon to finally and ends, at eeen of Which are provided inwardly simultaneously thrust home said tuck-portions feldalele Side tabs ll end l2 ende felfl 'owith substantially no ,risk of distortion, tearing u Sure flap I3 h 'ver foldable tuckor other mutilatieneairwheremu oma ic portion lo at its free end; Said closure flaps i3 135,125 of iilled cartons as successively moved at both ende of the body l0 being disposed to through the mchnism. is 0btamed extend'from the same side ofthe body and inother objects of this invention, not at this i molly 1n common Plone therewith. time more particularly enumerated, wi1l be n= .o By WFY 0f illustration the ceiifon closing derstood from the `following detailed descripmechanism cf this invention is Shown es operation of the sama tive upon cartons filled by a desired number of An illustrative embodiment of lcarton closing razor' blades B Which lleve been previously demechanism according to this invention is shown poslted, therein by' Suitable blade Supplying and in the accmpanying drawings, in which: 8B filling mechanism; but it will be obvious that Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the carton Salfl Carton Closing mechanism iS functionally closing' mechanism 0f this invention; Fig` 2 is a indlfferent to the particular kind of product horizontal sectional view thereof, taken on line which the Canon eneloSeS- 2....: in Fig, 1; 1iigs-` 3, 4l and 5 are respectively The carton closing mechanism according to transverse sectional views, taken respectively on o lll'llslnventlon comprises e conveyor Ineens fOr lines 3 3, 4 4, and 5 5 in Fig 1; Fig- 6 is a receiving and supporting open cartons into which transverse Sectional View taken on une 3 5 the content, e. g. razor blades B, has been inin Fig. 1, showing the relatively folded end clo- Serliel by Suitable meellanlsm et a filling Sie for closing of the former and tucking in of the extends and by which the flued Open @allons latter; and Fig; 7 is al View similar, to that of are carried toand through the carton end clo- Fig. 6 but showing the completion of the clossure manipulating devices by Winch the .novel carton closing mechanism of this invention is i118 of 'Sold @ml Closure naps and tucking m of characterized. Said conveyer means comprises their tuck-portionsi l 50 a suitablyr supported and driven endless chain Fig- 8 iS en enlarged. elementary sect Olla or similar carrier means i5 having aiixed thereview of end closure flop closing and liuck'pollfloll to, at spaced intervals, a succession of carton tucking means ready to operate; and Fig. 9 1S a receiving pocket forming elements i6, the pocksimilar view thereof after operation ets formed thereby being transversely open end- Slmllar characters of reference are employed 55 wisc, so that filled cartons deposited therein lie crosswise of the length of the conveyer. The upper or outgoing operative course of the conveyer means is disposed to run between laterally spaced platform members I1, which thus border opposite sides thereof, and, preferably, the outgoing course of said conveyer chain or similar carrier means I is supported against sagging by a track plate I3 disposed beneath and bridging the space between the platform members I1. V`

Mounted on the platform members I1 parallel to and so as to respectively border the respective laterally open ends of the conveyer, pockets, as carried by the operative outgoing course of the conveyer chain or similar carrier means I5, and so as to liel contiguous to the ends of carton bodies I0 carried in said conveyer pockets, and also so as to overlie the closure flaps I3 of said carton bodies, are folder bars I9. Said folder bars I9 are supported from posts 20, which are affixed in upstanding relation to the platform members I1, by odset bracket arms 2I which extend between said posts and said folder bars, whereby the latter are so supported as to provide clearance for unimpeded movement beneath the same of the carton closure flaps I3 and their tuck-portions I4. The folder bars I9 are of such width and are so disposed that their outer substantially perpendicular faces f are aligned 'with the lines of fold between the closure flaps I3 and their tuck-portions I4; `said tuck-portions initially projecting freely beyond said outer faces of the folder bars. The rearward ends of said folder bars I9 are provided with chamfered nosings 22 divergent from their inner perpendicular faces, said nosings being operative to inturn the leading side tabs II of the carton bodies I Il.

Mounted above and laterally offset from but parallel to the path of movement of the operative outgoing course of the carton conveyer means is a suitably driven power transmission shaft 23.`

means comprises a transverse rock-shaft 24 suit-WV ably supported in a bearing bracket'25 above the operative outgoing course of the carton conveyer means. Aillxed to said rock-shaft 24 is a pair of tab kicker members 23, disposed to depe from so as to stradcleizhenartonb es I 3 moved therebetweby the carton conveyer means. Also affixed to said rock-shaft 24, to extend upwardly therefrom adjacent to the power transmission shaft 23, is a crank-arm 21 provided at its end with a roller 23. Mounted on said power transmission shaft 23, so. as to be rotated thereby, is a rock-shaft actuating cam`23, the cam face 30 of which operatively engages said vcrank-arm roller 28 so as to produce properly timed oscillation of said rock-shaft 24 and the tab kicker members 26 mounted thereon. Spring means 3| is provided to operatively maintain the crankarm roller in engagement with said cam 23.

Mounted on the platform members I1, respectively infcooperative relation to the respective forwardend portions of the folder bars I9, are suitably shaped turn-over bars. Said turn-over Weird/mon body ends.

33 so as to merge with a forwardly and.- horizontally extending forward end portion 34 which projects freely beyond the forward extremity of said folder bar I9, and so as to lie opposingly contiguous to upper parts of the open ends of carton bodies I0 carried along the same by the carton conveyer means. 'I'he inner sides of said intermediate and forwardend portions 33 and 34 of the turn-over bars are shaped to provide a twisted or heliciform surface 35 leading from the substantially perpendicular inner face planes thereof toward but short of the planes of the undersides thereof. Said turnover bars may be supported in the described attachment to the platform members I1 and described relations to the adjacent folder bars I3 by angle brackets 3G ailixed to outer faces of the rear end portions 32 of the folder bars and to the top surfaces of said platform members.

Also mounted on the platform members I1, respectively in cooperative relation to the forward end portions 34 of the respective turn-over bars, are suitably shaped tilter plates 31 having downwardly inclined rearward end portions 33. Said tilter plates 31 are disposed beneath and contigu'ous to the forward end portions 34 of the adjacent turn-over bars with which they cooperate, and are iixedly supported in such relation by angle brackets 39 which are secured tovand between the same and the platform members I1. The top surfaces of said tilter plates 31 are shaped to provide twisted or heliciform surfaces 43 leading from horizontal plane at the inclined rearward ,end portions 38 to an upwardly and outwardly inclined angular plane, usually approximating a forty-five degree angle; such angular plane surfaces being opposed to the downwardly and outwardly inclined angular plane portions of the heliciform surfaces 35 of the forward end portions 34 of said turn-over bars.

Located adjacent to the respective forward .terminals of the associated turn-over bars and tilter plates, and thus on opposite sides of the carton conveyer means, are oscillatable pushplates 4I, which at proper times function to cooperate with up-tilted carton end closure flaps I3 and. their'bent and inwardly directed tuck-po tions I4, whereby to insert or tuck t o the open ends/imacat o y I0 served thereby andnme he former into closed relation to The lower ends of said push-plates 4I are pivoted by hinging pintles 42 journaled in bearhms 43 which are suitably supported from the platform members I1.

Aligned with the respective push-plates 4I are tuck-portion guide ngers 44 which project from tail-blocks 45, toward the carton bodies carried by the conveyer means. The free ends of said guide fingers 44 lie closely contiguous to the ends of a carton body Ill disposed therebetween, and are so positioned that their vunder surfaces 4I 11e infsubstentieuy horizontal piane substannauy coincident-to but preferably slightly below the` plane of the underside or inside surface of the top wall of said carton body as supported in a pocket of thegcarton conveyer means. 'I'he tailbloeks 4s, from which seid guide angers u pro- I bars each comprise an upwardly inclined rear end.

portion 32 disposed to extend obliquely past the outer face of the forward end portion ofl an adjacent folder bar I9,'such rear end portion being about their supporting shafts 41, whereby to raise or lower the guide ngers 44 for adiustably disconnected by an in-curved intermediate portion posing the same in the operative relation to said carton body IIIl above described; and.` when they areV thus. properly adjusted, mayv bevxed against displacement by' tightening set-screws 48"', with which said 'tail-blocks. 45ers, provided, in .binding or lgripping engagement with. the supporting shafts: 41. The upper free endx'portion'sf of the push-plates 4ilwaref indenti-ngly cut away intermediate their' sides asiat 49;` (see Figs; 2; Biand' 9 more particularly); so as: to clear fthe stationary guide fingers 44 whenkvsaid push-"pliantes` are in'- turned: by the means for' actuating: the-saine.A

Mechanism is f provided. for producing properly timedoperative"v oscillation of said pusheplatesi as each. carton body t0: carried by'thecarton con* veyer means is brought into momentarily held in` alignment therewith and. therebetween; Such mechanism comprises a .bridge plate 50V supported from thefplatform members I1 by columns 5 I upstandingl from'the latter, so as tobe vspaced I above* and so as to straddle the cartonlconveyer means. `Mounted upon said bridge' plate 50 is a bearing block 52 disposedjin verticali alignment relative to said cartonl cnnveyerl means;V Jour'-y naled in said: bearing bloclr 52T, parallel, spaced apart relation, area" pair' of longitudinal rock'- shafts 53. Aili'xed respectively upon the rearward ends of said respective rockeshaft's 53' are dependent, normally outswung'; levrarms 54". Each push-plate 4I is provided, at a side thereof and adjacent to its upper -i'reeend. "with a; roller stud 55' adapted to be engaged by a cooperating lever armV 54, when the-latter isinswung; Carried'b'y each lever arm 54 is an offset retractoryoke- 56- adapted?` to` embracetherollerstud 55 ofthepushplate 4If Withfwhich theleven .arm isy cooperative; whereby to positively cause the pushs-platefto followA with correspondingv movement ther-outswinging` movement of sai'di lever arm; AfllXe'd respectively upon the' forward endsofsaid'respective rock-shafts 53 are spur 'gears 51', which are interrhe'shedJ together; lwl'iereby said 'rock-shafts 53 are causedto l-oscillate in r'especti"`f`el`yv opposite directions so that inward'` and outwardl mov'ements of said lever' arms 54' are respectively simultaneously effected- AiiixedV uponone of 'the rockshafts 53 is a crank-lever 58 which extendsltoward the hereinbefore mentioned power transmission shaft 23. Said crank-lever 58'is provided at its` free end with a roller' 59. Fixed uponfsaid' powertransmission shaft 23; sofas to be rotated? thereby, is a cam 60, which is' adapted to be engaged by the roller 59of said crank-leverfSBL Said cam 60 is suitably shaped to produce properly timed oscillatory movement of said crank-lever 58, whereby properly timed in and out swingingA movements are imparted to said lever arms 54, and by the latter to said push-plates 4I=. Saldi crank-lever 58 is biased by suitable spring means to maintain operative engagement with theactu'- ating cam 60 and at the same time tobias said' push-plates 4I and their cooperating lever arrnsi 54 to normal initial outswung positions.. Such spring means maybe applied to these partsin anyv suitable way; illustratively, as shown, saidlsprlng means may comprise suitably` anchored pullsprings 6 I, which are respectively attached-to the" push-plates 4I.

Means is provided for holdingv a carton body I0 within its containing conveyor pocket against broth. upward displacement and'v longitudinal shift while its ends are being closed by the manipulation of its end closure flaps I`3 and their tuck-portions I4". This meansis provided' by an automatic clamp mechanism, and-"actuating means therefor adapted'to' properly 'tiin'e- T53 positiom.

the operation thereonwhich,I in the illustrative formA thereof: as shown, comprises a perpendicularly reciprocaiale` slide-bar 62, slidably supported in a;` slideway block 63 which is alxed to and which projects rearwardly from the underside of the bridge plate 50, so as to overhangzthef operative' outgoing: course of the carton conveyer means'v at. a point where the carton end closure aps-i lf34 and theirv .tuckeportions I4 are subject. to vmanipulation bythe previously def tiorr or saidslid'ei-bar 62 by a pinand slot conriection 98: Said actuating lever extends from itsl pivotal point across the power transmission shafty 23, and: is provided with a roller stud 69 adaptedto operatively'engage a clamp actuating cam "IIL whichk is mounted on' saidl power transmission shatti so as tobe revolved thereby. Said cam; 'IIJ' functions: to effect' lproperly timed applicationl or the clamp; pins Ii5v to a carton body t0 desired! to be engaged` thereby. Suitably arranged spring' meansA 1I is'provid'ed for biasing saidiactuatingz leverl 66: toward the cam 10 so as to* maintain the roller stud 69 of the former in engagement: with thelatter.

Beyondrthe cartonrend closing mechanismv are positioned` suitably'supported pressing rollers 12 between vwhich the carton bodies IU are successively' carried by the advancing carton con- These pressing rollers 12 are adaptectto-` press'theclosed and tucked end clovsure flaps I=3ftight1y home against' the carton ends.`

@Beyond the, pressing rollers 12, the upper outgoing; course of the carton conveyor means passes.` downwardly around a supporting sprocket 13, from which the conveyer means eX- tendsfrearwardlyin its ingoin'gor return course. In passing aroundithe sprocket 13, the pocket forming elementsv I6 of thev conveyer means tend tosepanate or open out, so that the closed car` tons mayibe discharged therefrom by gravity into` an= adjacent receiving chute 14, whereby tol be discharged and removed from the machine.

In the opera-tion. of the carton closing mechanismyjafter an open carton body carried by the carton conveyor means is. loaded withthe blades Byor` other product to beJ enclosed therein, the conveyer4 means advances the same through the carton clos-ing mechanism. The carton conveyor means is intermittently actuated by suitable operating; means (not shown), whereby each carton dwells momentarily at the goods filling station and at the station where the means for closing the end closure flaps I3 and tuckingf theirtucht-portions* I4- is located; the operationfof` saidlatter meansV and' of the carton clampingon holding means being timed` by their actuating camsy to take place during a p'eriod of: conveyerv meansY dwell. hey iilled cartons'- are carried.` along so as yto enterbetween-the f'ol'der bars I9, the nosings 22-I atz the rearward' endsoff the latter engage and foldrinwardly the leadingsidetabs I'Il to closedl whereupon the kicker members 26 arev Figs. 1 and 4).

actuated to next close the trailing side tabs I2.

As the cartons, with their side tabs closed, pass between .the folder bars I9, the end closure flaps I3 will remain extended in the plane of the bottom wall of the carton body, so as to pass beneath folder bars I9 with their tuck-portions I4 extending therefrom in the plane thereof but freely beyond the'outer faces of said folder bars.` As the cartons are advanced by the progress of the conveyer means, and while the end closure flaps I3 are still engaged by the folder bars I9, the tuck-portions I4 are carried into engagement with the turn-over bars, so as to be first engaged byA the upwardly and forwardly inclined portionsy 32 of the latter along which they are passed. These upwardly and forwardly inclined portions 32 of the turn-over bars cause said tuck-portions I4 to swing upward about a fold line intermediate the same and the end closure flaps I3, and while the 'latter are held down against up-swinging movement by the folder bars I9, until said tuck-portions I4 in turning stand perpendicular and contiguous to the inner facesof said turn-over bars (see Figs. l, 2 land 3). As the thus upswung tuck-portions I4 continue to be advanced, the same traverse the heliciform surfaces 35 of the turn-over bars; by which they are gradually turned inward toward the open ends-of the carton body I0. In the meantime, the end closure flaps I3 are carried beyond the forward ends of the folder bars I9, so as to be freed therefrom, and thereupon to be immediately engaged by the upwardly and forwardly inclined rearward end portions 38 of the tilter plates 31, thus initiating upswinging movements thereof (see As the advancing movement of the carton is continued, the tuck-portionsv I4 continue to traverse the heliciform surfaces 35 of the turn-over bars, while the end closure flaps I3 continue to traverse the heliciform surfaces 4I) of the tilter plates 31, until the initial upswing of said closure aps I3 is completed, and the tuck-portions I4, as angularly inturned relative to the closure aps, are disposed with their free end edges opposed to the open ends of the carton body (see Fig. 5).

The end closure aps and their tuck-portions are held in the described initially folded relation, while, by further advancingmovement of the carton body IIL'the same are entered and come to rest between the outswung folder plates 4I and beneath the guide fingers 44, andI in so advancing escape from-theends of said turnover bars and tilterk plates (see Figs.' 6 and.y 8). As will be observed more particularly by inspection of Fig. 3, they undersurfaces 46 of the'guide fingers' 44 lie in a plane slightly below the plane of the inside surface of the carton body I0, so that the free edges of the tuck-portions I4, when moved inward, will be guided to pass beneath the. end edges ofthe carton top wall and into the interior of the carton'body withward displacement and longitudinal shift, while the end closreaps I3 are being closed and their tuck-portions -I4 inserted"into the carton body ends.. The cartonbody'bei'ng thus held, the actuating lcam 60' functions to operate the folder plates phy-"imparting propermovement to the crank lever 58, andithus to the intergeared shafts 53,-.whereby to' cause simultaneous lin-swinging movements ofthe lever arms 54; 'Such movement ofthevleverarms 54 engages the roller studs 55 of the folder plates 4I so'as to impart in-swinging movements to the latter. `Theinward movementof the .folder plates4l swings the closure flaps -I3'across 'the' open'end's of the carton body to closed relation thereto, while at `thesame time thrusting into said open ends the tuck-portions I.4,(se'eFigs.y7 and 9). .The-end-closure'flaps of the `carton body having been closed and tucked, the carton conveyer means advances the closed cartons so that, be- 'fore discharge from the machine, they pass between the pressing rollers 12, whereby the closure Iiaps1 are pressedtightly home against the carton` ends. This having.'v been' done, :the conveyer means carries onr the filled and closed cartons to the point of discharge, so that thei'same are released-from thefconveyer means and deposited in the take away chute, or other desired form of receiving means. y y

i From' the. above description -it willbe understood that theA instant invention provides a very simple,v and yet highly eflicientf carton closing mechanism, and.. onev which` isL especially well adapted ifor simultaneously operatingupon both ends of .avcartonadaptedzto be closed by tuck type closnreiflaps.. i A

It will be; understood thatvarious `changes may be made in the disclosed constructions, and many apparently widelyv different; embodiments of this invention` couldbe made'without departing from the scope thereof .as defined' by.,the lfollowing claims. It is therefore intended that all matter contained inthe above description or shown in the'accornpanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative `and notinadimiting sense.

l. Inr carton closing mechanisnrhaving means fori-progressively. adyancingcartons `through means to angularly bendcarton end closure aps and their tuck portions whereby to direct the latter towardppen ends Yof ythe-,carton bodies, flap ,closing mechanism comprising vnormally outswung pivoted flap push-plate means, means to ,effecttimed in and outswinging movements of ,said push-plate means` adjustablymounted stationary'guide `finger means directed toward the carton body endslwith extremities thereof abutting endedges of carton body walls beneath which flap tuck portions are to be inserted and with their guide-surfacesdisposed in planes slightly below the planes of internal surfaces of said walls whereby to engage extremities of saidflap tuck portions to guide movement thereof into the carton` body ends, yvertically reciprocable means to holdlthe cartonbodiesagainst displacement re1- ative` to said guide finger `means vwhile closure flaps and their tuck portions are being manipulated, -and means to reciprocate said holding means to ,effect timed engagement and disengagement-.thereof with the carton bodies.

.2.: Inv car-ton closing mechanism having means4 for progressively advancing cartons through meansto angularly bend carton end closure flaps andv their. tuckportionswhereby to direct the latter toward open endsof the carton bodies,lap

closing mechanism comprising normally autswung pivoted flap push-plate means, means to effect timed in and out swinging movements of said push-plate means, adjustably mounted stationary guide finger means directed toward the carton body ends with extremities thereof abutting end edges vof carton body walls beneath which flap tuck portions are to be inserted and with their guide surfaces disposed in planes slightly below the planes of internal surfaces of said walls whereby to engage extremities of said iiap tuck portions to guide movement thereof into the carton body ends, vertically reciprocable means to hold the carton bodies against displacement relative to said guide nger means while closure flaps and their tuck portions are `being manipulated, and means to reciprocate said holding means to effect timed engagement and disengagement thereofwith the carton bodies, the carton body engaging elements of said holding means comprising sharp pointed clamppins.

3. Carton end flap closing mechanism as dened in claim 1 including a pair of transversely opposed pressing rollers beyond said closing mechanism between which closed cartons are passed whereby to press the closed and tucked end closure flaps tightly home against the carton body ends.

4. In carton closing mechanism having means for progressively advancing cartons through means to angularly bend carton end closure flaps and their tuck portions whereby to direct the latter toward open ends of the carton bodies, flap closing mechanism comprising normally outswung pivoted flap push-plate means, means to effect in and out swinging movements of said push-plate means `comprising oscillatable lever means, said push-plate means having laterally projecting stud means to receive actuating thrust of said lever means, and means to effect timed oscillation of said lever means to produce correspondingly timed in and out swinging movements of said push-plate means, adjustably mounted stationary guide finger means directed toward the carton body ends with extremities thereof abutting end edges of carton body walls beneath which flap tuck portions are to be inserted and with their guide surfaces disposed in planes spondingly timed in and out swinging movements of said push-plate means, adjustably mounted stationary guide finger means directed toward the carton body ends with extremities thereof abutting endI edges of carton body walls beneath which flap tuck portions are to be inserted and with their guide surfaces disposed in planes slightly below the planes of internal surfaces of said walls whereby to engage extremities of said flap tuck portions to guide movement thereof into the carton body ends, vertically reciprocable means to hold' the carton bodies against displacement relative to said guide finger means while closure flaps and their tuck portions are being manipuslightly belowthe planes of internal surfaces of l said walls whereby to engage extremities of said' flap tuck 4portions to guide movement thereof into the carton body ends, vertically reciprocable means to hold the carton bodies against displacement relative to said guide ringer means while closure flaps and their tuck portions are being manipulated, and means to reciprocate said holding means to effect timed engagement and disengagement thereof with the carton bodies.

5. In carton closing mechanism having means for progressively advancing cartons through means to angularly bend carton end closure flaps and their tuck portions whereby to direct the latter toward open ends of the carton bodies, flap closing mechanism comprising normally outswung pivoted flap push-plate means, means to effect in and out swinging movements of said push-plate means comprising oscillatable lever means, said push-plate means having laterally projecting stud means to receive actuating thrust of said lever means, and means to effect timed oscillation of said lever means to produce correlated, and means to reciprocate said holding means to effect timed engagement and disengaging thereof with the carton bodies, the carton body engaging elements of said holding means comprising sharp pointed clamp pins.

6. Carton end flap closing mechanism as defined in 'claim 5 including a pair of transversely opposed pressing rollers beyond said closing mechanism between which closed cartons are passed whereby to press the closed and tucked end closure flaps tightly home against the carton body ends,

'7. In carton closing mechanism having means for progressively advancing cartons through means to angularly bend carton closure end aps and their tuck portions whereby to direct the latter toward open ends of the carton bodies, flap closing mechanism comprising normally outswung pivoted flap push-plates to oppose opposite ends of a carton body, means to simultaneously effect in and out swinging movements of said push-plates comprising a pair of intergeared rock shafts, lever arms respectively dependent from said rock-shafts for cooperation with-the respective push-plates, each push-plate having adjacent to its free end portion a laterally projecting stud with which a corresponding lever arm cooperates, means to effect timed oscillation of said rock shafts, and their lever arms to produce correspondingly timed in and out swinging movement of said push-plates, adjustably mounted.

against displacement relative to said guide fingers while closure flaps and their tuck portions are manipulated by said push-plates, means to reciprocate said holding means to effect timed engagement and disengagement thereof with the carton bodies, the carton body engaging elements of said holding means comprising sharp pointed clamp pins.

8. Carton end flap closing mechanism as defined in claim '7 including a pair of transversely opposed pressing rollers beyond said closing mechanism between which closed cartons are passed whereby to press the closed and tucked end closure flaps tightly home against the carton body ends.

GEORGE I. HOI-IL. 

